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Extra time granted for e-conveyancing transition

Published 13 April 2018
  • Conveyancing industry granted seven-month extension to prepare for digital transition
  • Requirement to lodge electronically now applies from December 1, 2018
  • More than half of eligible documents already transacted electronically and the trend continues to rise

The conveyancing industry will now have more time to prepare for the transition to electronic conveyancing.

WA Registrar of Titles Jean Villani granted a general exemption from the requirement to electronically lodge certain documents relating to the registration of interests in land until December 1, 2018.  The original timeline had been for a May 1, 2018 start date.

Lands Minister Rita Saffioti has welcomed the decision, which will provide the industry - including settlement agents and lawyers - with more time to prepare for the transition to electronic conveyancing.

While many industry practitioners are already transacting electronically, others require more time to ensure a smooth conversion.

Electronic conveyancing will ensure the State maintains best practice systems, which provide superior protection of Western Australians' property assets from fraud while meeting consumer expectations around the ease and efficiency of online transactions.

Both the Minister and the Registrar are firmly of the view that electronic conveyancing provides the safest, fastest and most efficient way to transact property and protect the integrity of the State's land titles register.

Comments attributed to Lands Minister Rita Saffioti:

"This is a pragmatic and sensible approach to ensuring the conveyancing industry can move as one toward electronic transactions in good time.

"Electronic conveyancing is the simplest, fastest and safest way to conduct property transactions within the digital economy.

"The industry is encouraged to work as one to adopt the new practice before the December 1 deadline for the benefit of consumers, the property sector and to further strengthen integrity of the State's land titles register."